Delaware Today’s 50th Anniversary Issue

Letters to the Editor

Congratulations to Tom (Draper), a true broadcaster! I was there back in 1971 at the old WTHD in Milford. I remember in May 1973 when he put WAFL on the air as Delaware’s first full-time country music station. There were skeptics who said it would never work. But I’ll never forget that by November, there were so many people listening to “waffle” that when the announcer made a comment on Thanksgiving Day about ‘missing’ his family’s dinner … within an hour we had a line of cars in the parking lot of loyal fans bringing plates of turkey and trimmings! Always a gentleman, a sportsman and a great guy to work for.

I have known Dave (Tiberi) for over 25 years and his real legacy is something most people never see. That’s because Dave is the same friendly, funny and passionate advocate of every other human being he encounters 24/7, 365. His public work with young people and numerous other Delaware causes is only surpassed by his thousands of one-on-one missions to help individuals, regardless of who they are.

I remember being with him in the days after the Toney fight and the offers of more than a million dollars he turned down. I have never known anyone to turn down a perfectly legitimate multi-million dollar deal, solely on principle … but Dave did.

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—Posted online by Mark A. Crouch, Wilmington


Loved the Three Little Bakers! We even remember the original location over the border in Pennsylvania. Went to the Pike Creek dinner theater at least a dozen times over the years. Always had a great time!

On Bill Stevenson: I saw Robert Palmer, Bruce Springsteen, Pat Benetar. Those were shows I’ll never forget. That said, every weekend there was the best! Bands like Jack of Diamonds and Sinbad were great in their own right. It was way too much fun there. Thank you Bill Stevenson.

On Harry Levin: We moved to Newark from Baltimore in 1968.  My dad asked how to get to Christiana High School to register me. The guy said, “Go east on Chestnut Hill Road and make a right after the Happy Harry’s”. We all laughed, what was a Happy Harry’s? We found out, and we loved it.  Happy Harry’s employed many of my high school friends.  After that, it was my pharmacy of choice. Loved what Alan was doing with expansion about 10 years ago—it looked like there would be a Happy Harry’s on every street corner in Delaware for a while there. Since then, I’ve been forced into mail-order pharmacy like a lot of folks, and I guess the time was right for Alan to sell to Walgreens. But Delaware is not the same without Happy Harry’s.

—Posted online by “NewarkGuy”

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I read your article on the top 50 most influential. I am shocked that you missed law enforcement, fire fighters, military and educators. One of the most influential people in my life was a social studies teacher in high school. I recognize that Tubby Raymond and Dave Roselle are from the University, but NO TEACHERS. At least recognize someone who has a background in teaching and has contributed both on a Delaware and National level in education research. Dr. James Hiebert comes to mind first. His research and publications in classroom instruction and mathematics education is nationally renowned. Did you miss this one, or are these areas just not that influential?

—Posted online by “a downstater who respects and appreciates more than just the politicians and philanthropists.”
 

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